Why are rates "per person"?

QUESTION: I would like to travel but why are all the travel cost and accommodation advertised per person sharing. - Anonymous "Over 55"

ANSWER: When a package price is calculated, travel agents have to take into account that people are will share hotel rooms and things like car hire. It also allows them to give a pro-rata price if two or three people share a hotel room. Because only one person is paying for the entire room in the case of a single traveller, they are charged an excess to cover the room rate.
Very few hotels still have single and double rates - they charge one rate whether one or two people occupy the room. So if the room rate is R1000, the "per person rate" would be R500, but the single rate R500 plus a R500 excess, a total of R1000. It may appear that singles are being ripped off, but this is not the case. It is just that other people are splitting the cost of the room when they travel in pairs. Some travel firms offer to team singles up to share a room, thus slashing the cost each person pays. However, sharing a bedroom with a stranger may not appeal to all.